HC Deb 29 March 1996 vol 274 cc760-1W
Mr. Bryan Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many full general national vocational qualifications have been awarded in each year since their introduction at each level; and how many awardees have been taught in (i) further education and sixth form colleges, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) other. [23081]

Mr. Paice

The first five GNVQs began their pilot phase at intermediate and advanced levels in 1992. The GNVQ awarding bodies estimate that the number of full GNVQs awarded since 1993 is as follows (rounded to the nearest 100):

1993 1994 1995
Advanced — 2,000 15,400
Intermediate 1,800 18,600 41,700
Foundation — 700 3,600

Information on the type of GNVQ centre attended by individual awardees is not collected centrally at present. The Department is developing a GNVQ database which will enable this information to be supplied in future.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate of public expenditure on pre-16 general national vocational qualifications provision. [23083]

Mr. Paice

The Department has made no such estimate.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when her Department or its predecessor began its assessment of the need for an education lead body for the development of S/NVQs for(a) the youth service and (b) youth work; [23167]

(2) what are the implications of the creation of S/NVQs for (a) the youth service or (b) youth work for public funding for the voluntary youth service sector; [23170]

(3) what representations she has received alleging disadvantages faced by the voluntary youth sector as a result of the absence of S/NVQs for the youth service or for youth work; [23169]

(4) what targets have been set by her or by those responsible in her Department for the date by which S/NVQs for (a) the youth service and (b) youth work should be in place. [23168]

Mr. Paice

In 1994, the former Employment Department funded the National Youth Agency to commission a feasibility study by Professor Eraut of Sussex university to explore the scope for developing NVQ standards for youth and community work. He recommended that a comprehensive occupational and functional analysis of the field should be completed, together with a cost-benefit analysis. Following extensive consultation with the youth service field, including the voluntary sector, there is now general agreement that such an analysis should take place. No targets have been set for the introduction of NVQs for youth work or of a lead body for this occupational sector.

The Department would fund any occupational and functional mapping exercise, a cost-benefit analysis, the development of standards and qualifications and the implementation of those qualifications. Funding is also normally available to assist with the training costs of assessment.

The Government are committed to completing the NVQ framework and I am pleased to say that the voluntary sector has been generally supportive of the need to develop NVQs in the youth service.